Lovely Laurels

The Nation''s favourite!

Everyone loves a Laurel. They are by far one of the most popular hedging types all across the UK and here at Hedges Direct we stock seven different varieties which you'll see in many a garden. Evergreen and with luscious, shiny leaves, some with flowers and berries, these gorgeous plants make a beautiful, dense hedge ideal for privacy, noise and pollution absorbtion and providing year round cover whilst looking simply stunning!

Cherry Laurel boasts large, super glossy green leaves and is probably the most popular laurel of them all! Its vibrant and highly attractive appearance, dense habit and fast growth suitable to most locations and light make it the perfect all round hedge. You'll spot Cherry Laurel in gardens everywhere and for good reason - it's the superstar of the laurel family and our top seller!

Portuguese Laurel has distinctive darker green, narrow, pointed glossy leaves on maroon coloured stems. An elegant Laurel, it is extremely hardy and will grow in most locations, soil and light conditions. The small white flowers in summer are popular with bees and butterflies and the subsequent red fruits darken to black in the autumn. With an average growth rate it is also easy to manage making this another popular choice!

Bay Laurel is one of the oldest shrubs in cultivation originating from the Mediterranean. Also known as Sweet Bay it is the source of the bay leaves used fresh or dried in cooking. This lovely aromatic plant has creamy yellow flowers in spring and dark glossy fruits in autumn and is more delicate than other laurels, preferring a sunnier, well-sheltered position and moist but well drained soil. It is also a popular plant for topiary and can be clipped into a variety of shapes!

Laurel Caucasica is similar to Cherry Laurel but with an elongated, slightly serrated leaf that is darker in colour. This hedging plant is exceptionally hardy and tolerant of both drought and shade. It will grow practically anywhere and being evergreen with a dense habit and fairly fast growth rate, is perfect for privacy screening. Its fragrant white spring flowers and red autumn fruits add seasonal and wildlife interest, attracting bees and birds.

Compact Laurel is ideal for smaller gardens or limited space with its narrow leaves and upright compact habit. It flowers profusely once or even twice per year and even in shade! This robust laurel will even grow in coastal or exposed locations including those north facing and in any soil. As it is more slow growing than other varieties it will take time to get to its desired height, however the advantage of this is that it is very easy to maintain once it does.

Laurel Etna is noted for its dark, glossy green foliage. However the new growth has a bronzed-orange tone and provides a warm contrast to the mature green growth. This slower growing laurel also has scented, creamy white flower spikes in spring followed by small glossy black berries in autumn, perfect for visiting wildlife. A dense habit and tolerance for any situation along with its colourful appearance make this another popular laurel choice!

Spotted Laurel is often grown as an ornamental plant as well as a hedge due to its unique dappled yellow/green, glossy, thick leaves. It is very pollution tolerant making it a good choice for urban or suburban gardens. Extra colour comes in the form of small maroon flowers in spring that give way to bright red berries in late summer. Colorful and eye-catching this particular Laurel makes an alternative and interesting evergreen!

Advice and Information

Read our latest blogs below for September Gardening Advice and how to ensure you trim your hedges responsibly where garden birds are concerned